Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT) has produced winner in Bayer East Africa’s Safe Use Ambassador program (SUA) competition programme.
The Bayer Safe Use Ambassador initiative, has been rolled out in collaboration with select key universities to train agricultural students and professionals on the proper use of pesticides and personal protective equipment (PPE).
During the inaugural launch event, over 50 students from the School of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences were trained on the safe and responsible use of crop protection products.
At the end of the program, the ‘Safe Use Ambassadors’ were tasked with sharing their knowledge on sustainable farming with their local farming communities during the school break and capturing their interactions and experiences.
A year later, after the final evaluation, Bayer was thrilled to recognize the top three winners.
This year’s award goes to Amos Muigai, a dedicated Horticulture and Food Security student- School of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences (SOAES) at JKUAT emerging as the overall winner of the Safe Use Ambassador Program 2024.
His dedication to ensuring the well-being of farming communities and advocating for proper crop protection use earned him this prestigious honor.
He will be fully sponsored for a one-week educational trip to Bayer Crop Science’s headquarters in Monheim, Germany, from November 18th to 24th, where he will also get to interact with scientists and experts alongside winners from other countries.
This trip will provide detailed insights into Bayer’s operations and safety culture for young, ambitious students.
In addition to visiting the Crop Science headquarters in Monheim, Amos will also tour the Bayer AG Headquarters in Leverkusen and a ‘Bayer Forward Farm’ in Rommerskirchen (Damianshof), and the city of Cologne.
The award ceremony was held at JKUAT and was attended by Joern Kraegeloh, Bayer East Africa Managing Director, Nimrod Lucky, Agronomy Advisory and Stewardship Specialist for Smallholders, University Ag. Vice Chancellor Prof. Robert Kinyua, and various deans.
“We are thrilled to honor Amos Muigai with the Safe Use Ambassador Award. His dedication to promoting safe agricultural practices aligns perfectly with Bayer’s commitment to sustainability and the well-being of farmers.
“Amos’s work is a testament to the positive impact that education and awareness can have on farming communities.
“At Bayer, we are committed to promoting the safe and responsible use of our products. We believe everyone has a role to play in achieving this goal,” said Joern Kraegeloh, Bayer East Africa Managing Director.
He added that its success in Kenya highlights the remarkable impact of collaboration and innovation, and the company’s impact in nurturing leadership, safety, and sustainability in the agricultural sector.
This initiative was launched in 2017. Since then, it has reached more than 50 universities in over 15 countries.
As a result, more than 11,200 students have been trained as certified Bayer Safe Use Ambassadors.
“I am deeply honored to receive this award. Being the winner of the Bayer SUA 2024 will be one of the most memorable experiences of my student days.
“I am looking forward to gaining practical experience and knowledge from this program, which will help sharpen my soft skills and expand my networks in the agricultural sector,” said Amos.
